By Jenna Jarrah
The Los Angeles County Department of Public Social Services (DPSS) recently celebrated the 90th anniversary of its Toy Loan program, and smiles were abundant as parents saw their children joyfully playing with a wide range of toys from toy cars, to Pikachu, to puzzles, and more.
The toy loan idea was launched in a garage in 1935, and it has expanded today to 30 toy loan centers and serves 30,000 children in L.A. County.
“It’s a wonderful program that is really there to allow children the opportunity to learn about themselves, and also allow a space for them to play with toys and spark their imagination,” says Liliana Ramirez, manager of the Toy Loan program. “That creativity allows them to explore who they can become.”
The 90th anniversary event featured a ribbon-cutting ceremony in Lincoln Heights for the county’s first Toy Loan Center operated and managed by L.A. County Department of Public Social Services (DPSS). This is a significant accomplishment for the Toy Loan Program because historically toy loan centers were supported by DPSS, but were operated and managed by local community organizations, like parks and schools.
Through the center in Lincoln Heights, DPSS can directly serve children and families in the county for the first time in the program’s history. “We are looking forward to serving the Lincoln Heights community and its children,” says Ramirez.
The Toy Loan program operates much like a library. Every child has a check out card, like at the library, and children check out toys the same way books are checked out from a library. A child will “check out” a toy, and return it the following week.
Every time a child checks out a toy and returns it in good condition, they receive an incentive point. The child is rewarded with an “incentive toy” to keep and take home with them after participation in the program for 5, 10, 15, and 20 week increments, according to the DPSS website.
“For all three of my daughters, it has been rewarding in the amount of toys to check out,” says Suzette Mendoza, a parent in the program. “Toy loan has given me teachable moments with my daughters.”
The program appeals to children of all ages by providing a variety of educational toys, action figures, dolls, and electronic and trendy toys. It is also an opportunity for children to learn about responsibility, cooperation and self-regulation.
“I have a feeling where I feel like the toys will make me really happy, and I feel really excited when I get to borrow them. My favorite toy is a Furby,” says Caroline Acabal-Mendoza, Suzette’s daughter. All three of Suzette’s daughters — Melody 13, Caroline 10, and Rosalia 3 — have enjoyed the Toy Loan program.
Program Manager Ramirez cites strong community support that allowed Toy Loan to thrive for 90 years.
“Many times it is people who participated in Toy Loan who come back to support it, or individuals who stood in line for a toy giveaway and remember the feeling of receiving a toy, and so they come back,” she says.
Among those is Angelita Medina, who participated as a little girl 70 years ago and today is a Los Angeles Country Library commissioner, a California State Dental board member, chair of the Whittier Latino Coalition, and is involved with several other advocacy groups.
“There was a truck that would come to our school periodically and these trucks opened up, and I got to choose what I wanted,” Medina remembered. “The things that stood out were dolls, and I loved the Raggedy Ann dolls.”
She said, “It was a really positive experience for me. I can’t remember all the details surrounding it, but being there in front of that truck — I can still feel it like it’s now. It still touches me.”
Reflecting on her career, she says programs like Toy Loan informed her path in government work and volunteer work.
“The Toy Loan program has a significant impact in my life in a very positive way. There is no accident that my path in life regarding government work and volunteer work has been shaped by programs like Toy Loan,” she says.
When asked about the future of the Toy Loan program, Medina said “I would like to see an expansion of the Toy Loan program, and because I have personal relationships with several school board members in my community, I’d like to share this opportunity with them.”
The program faced challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic and several Toy Loan centers were closed, followed by a 2022 fire at their downtown L.A. warehouse that destroyed much of their inventory — of toys. But the program continues to prove its resilience for children across the generations.
“We are now in a place where we are ready to lend out our toys, and are looking to partner with places where children already gather — like parks and schools — and open up more Toy Loan centers,” says Ramirez.
Organizations who are interested in partnerships, and people who want to volunteer, can inquire at Toy Loan centers or on the website at toyloan@dpss.lacounty.gov.